Learning how to build an electric guitar - Page 40

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 12:19 AM

Got people lining up already

If you would like to put a bass unit into the queue, I would fund that... scale length 34"...

lumberjim · 04-04-2019, 01:45 AM

You're on. What else do you have in mind? I'd like to have a bass myself. After these, I could make a pair. You got any design elements in mind? I figure you'd know what you like and don't like in a bass. I could make myself a second copy of your design.

....Unless your design is ugly

.

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 09:25 AM

The Geddy Lee Jazz bass is my jam, and has what I like a bass to have:

Relatively light
A thin maple neck
Painted (!) block inlays
Fender custom shop 65' pickups
Passive (I don't believe in depending on having a 9v in the instrument)
High mass bridge
NOT string-thru (basses use these really thick unbendy strings)

Things it doesn't have that I would want:

satin finish neck
zero fret
built-in Schaller strap locks, i guess

The thing is, the Geddy neck often needs adjusting + truss rod access is at the heel of the neck. You have to remove the neck to adjust it! I'm against that.

In bass, there is a problem with "neck dive" where the neck is too heavy for the body, because the tuners and strings weigh a lot. The Ged doesn't suffer that, but just in case, I think lightweight tuners are a good idea.

In fact I love a headless neck where the tuners are at your right hand.

And then there are the electric uprights...

But all that said, right now, I am actually in need of a bass with a single P-bass pickup to get the 60s Precision bass sound.

lumberjim · 04-04-2019, 10:10 AM

That looks like a whole bunch of new tasty knowledge.

I've got a carbon fiber rod... Well... Strip? That could get sunk into the neck along side the truss rod to enhance the rigidity of the neck.

This will be fun

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 12:20 PM

Unfortunately headless gear is $$$$$$$$$$

Allparts has a headless bridge and headstock connector... for $490!!

Ned Steinberger has the best and sexiest headless designs (he's the guy that makes the electric upright too, and the dude who makes the original "thin" Steinberger basses and guitars that were popular in the 80s.)

I had a Hohner copy of the Steinberger thin bass for a while... then I figured if I was gonna be fat, I could not play a thin bass, because that wasn't a good look.

lumberjim · 04-04-2019, 12:30 PM

If you go headless, you have to put the stings in backwards, and all your notes will be upside down.

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 12:32 PM

They have double ball strings for that

! But no left-handed strings.

lumberjim · 04-04-2019, 12:32 PM

I'm not a fan of how they look, actually. I like those huge paddle tuners like the Fender Jazz bass. but if that's what you want, we'll figure it out. Check on reverb, you might find used gear you like for cheaper than $500

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 12:38 PM

For the price, the paddle tuners are fine. Hipshot makes an "ultralight" tuner...

Quote:

These tuners weigh 1.8 oz. each, compared to approx 2.3 oz. for a sealed Gotoh tuner and 3.5 oz. for a Schaller-style tuner.

Leo Fender was just copying the big tuners on string basses, I think

lumberjim · 04-04-2019, 12:44 PM

there ya go. we could relieve some weight from the headstock in other ways as well. as long as it's designed strong enough, we could cut away sections inside, or I could fuck up and take a huge chunk out of it with the routing table, and make a skinny one out of what's left.

lumberjim · 04-04-2019, 12:49 PM

What shape body do you like? Traditional or one of those Les Claypool wild ones?

And are we just doing 4 strings? Ever played on 5 or 6?

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 01:07 PM

Claypool's basses have that nice big sexy curvy top horn. This is his latest, and I dig it, but I would be totally happy with something more trad.

I think with the ultralights, and a thin neck, the balance wouldn't be a problem. But look how small the body is on that Claypool.

I play only 4s. I have played 5s but I don't like them. I just tune down to D on the spot if I need an extra note.

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 01:13 PM

I wonder if Claypool needs the longer horn for balance purposes.

Also, check it out, fuckin' guy has a TREMELO system on his BASS. That is outrageous. And I love it.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-04-2019, 02:45 PM

The long ~~neck~~ horn gives him a place to attach the strap out of the way of his left hand.

Undertoad · 04-04-2019, 03:43 PM

See the split pickup there on Claypool's bass, that is a Precision-style pickup, the original Fender design with two poles per string.

It keeps things simple, electrical-wise, because there are only two controls: volume and tone.

04-04-2019, 01:45 AM	#587
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	You're on. What else do you have in mind? I'd like to have a bass myself. After these, I could make a pair. You got any design elements in mind? I figure you'd know what you like and don't like in a bass. I could make myself a second copy of your design. ....Unless your design is ugly . __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-04-2019, 10:10 AM	#589
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	That looks like a whole bunch of new tasty knowledge. I've got a carbon fiber rod... Well... Strip? That could get sunk into the neck along side the truss rod to enhance the rigidity of the neck. This will be fun __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-04-2019, 12:30 PM	#591
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	If you go headless, you have to put the stings in backwards, and all your notes will be upside down. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-04-2019, 12:32 PM	#593
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I'm not a fan of how they look, actually. I like those huge paddle tuners like the Fender Jazz bass. but if that's what you want, we'll figure it out. Check on reverb, you might find used gear you like for cheaper than $500 __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-04-2019, 12:44 PM	#595
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	there ya go. we could relieve some weight from the headstock in other ways as well. as long as it's designed strong enough, we could cut away sections inside, or I could fuck up and take a huge chunk out of it with the routing table, and make a skinny one out of what's left. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-04-2019, 12:19 AM	#586
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Got people lining up already If you would like to put a bass unit into the queue, I would fund that... scale length 34"...

04-04-2019, 09:25 AM	#588
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The Geddy Lee Jazz bass is my jam, and has what I like a bass to have: Relatively light A thin maple neck Painted (!) block inlays Fender custom shop 65' pickups Passive (I don't believe in depending on having a 9v in the instrument) High mass bridge NOT string-thru (basses use these really thick unbendy strings) Things it doesn't have that I would want: satin finish neck zero fret built-in Schaller strap locks, i guess The thing is, the Geddy neck often needs adjusting + truss rod access is at the heel of the neck. You have to remove the neck to adjust it! I'm against that. In bass, there is a problem with "neck dive" where the neck is too heavy for the body, because the tuners and strings weigh a lot. The Ged doesn't suffer that, but just in case, I think lightweight tuners are a good idea. In fact I love a headless neck where the tuners are at your right hand. And then there are the electric uprights... But all that said, right now, I am actually in need of a bass with a single P-bass pickup to get the 60s Precision bass sound.

04-04-2019, 12:20 PM	#590
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Unfortunately headless gear is $$$$$$$$$$ Allparts has a headless bridge and headstock connector... for $490!! Ned Steinberger has the best and sexiest headless designs (he's the guy that makes the electric upright too, and the dude who makes the original "thin" Steinberger basses and guitars that were popular in the 80s.) I had a Hohner copy of the Steinberger thin bass for a while... then I figured if I was gonna be fat, I could not play a thin bass, because that wasn't a good look.

04-04-2019, 12:32 PM	#592
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	They have double ball strings for that ! But no left-handed strings.

04-04-2019, 12:49 PM	#596
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	What shape body do you like? Traditional or one of those Les Claypool wild ones? And are we just doing 4 strings? Ever played on 5 or 6? __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-04-2019, 01:07 PM	#597
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Claypool's basses have that nice big sexy curvy top horn. This is his latest, and I dig it, but I would be totally happy with something more trad. I think with the ultralights, and a thin neck, the balance wouldn't be a problem. But look how small the body is on that Claypool. I play only 4s. I have played 5s but I don't like them. I just tune down to D on the spot if I need an extra note.

04-04-2019, 01:13 PM	#598
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I wonder if Claypool needs the longer horn for balance purposes. Also, check it out, fuckin' guy has a TREMELO system on his BASS. That is outrageous. And I love it.

04-04-2019, 02:45 PM	#599
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The long ~~neck~~ horn gives him a place to attach the strap out of the way of his left hand. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. Last edited by xoxoxoBruce; 04-04-2019 at 03:48 PM.

04-04-2019, 03:43 PM	#600
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	See the split pickup there on Claypool's bass, that is a Precision-style pickup, the original Fender design with two poles per string. It keeps things simple, electrical-wise, because there are only two controls: volume and tone.

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